Db. Thordarson et al., EFFECT OF PARTIAL VERSUS COMPLETE PLANTAR FASCIOTOMY ON THE WINDLASS MECHANISM, Foot & ankle international, 18(1), 1997, pp. 16-20
Eight adult below-knee cadaver specimens were placed in a testing mach
ine and loaded to 350 newtons according to a strict protocol. Arch hei
ght and length measurements were obtained in each specimen with the to
es resting on the foot plate, dorsiflexed to 30 degrees, and maximally
dorsiflexed manually, The plantar fascia was then divided from medial
to lateral in one-quarter increments, and the effect on arch height a
nd length measurements was assessed using the same loading protocol. A
consistent decrease in the arch-supporting function on sequential sec
tioning of the plantar fascia was encountered, A less consistent decre
ase in the arch-supporting function was reflected by the increase in t
he height of the arch with sequential sectioning of the plantar fascia
. The study demonstrates that partial plantar fasciotomy decreases the
arch-supporting function of the plantar fascia in addition to weakeni
ng the structure. Strict surgical indications for this type of procedu
re should be maintained.